New Delhi: Eminent Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani on Monday joined defence veterans protesting over delay in One Rank One Pension at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Ex-servicemen have been protesting for 78 days with 10 being on fast-unto-death and many on relay hunger strike.

The Former Bharatiya Janata Party leader has been at loggerheads with the Modi government for some time. He had been critical about the government's efforts in tackling black money.

Jethmalani said, "I have come here to assure you all support and help you on your cause. I want to fight the evil forces that have entered into our political system. I've no other ambition left in life except to return love and affection. The politicians unfortunately have let down the entire nation."

One Rank One Pension scheme has been a long-standing demand of nearly 3 million ex-servicemen and war widows in the country. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

Till now, nine war veterans and a father of a martyr are on fast-unto-death. Colonel Pushpender Singh, Havaldar Major Singh, Havaldar Ashok Chauhan, Havaldar Sahib Singh, Major Piar Chand Rana, Naik Uday Singh, Commander AK Sharma, Vijay Singh Yadav, SWR Keshav Singh and Samwal Ram Yadav, father of martyr Sunil Kumar Yadav are on fast-unto-death.